Driving device for taking away filling material from a surface

ABSTRACT

The invention refers to a driving device for taking away filling material and particles soiling the filling material from a surface, in particular a sports field, preferably from an artificial lawn field. The driving device has a taking away device which removes the filling material and the particles from the field and puts it in the driving device, as well as a suction device with a filter element for separating particles from a suction air flow. The invention is characterised in that the filter element is self-cleaning.

The invention refers to a driving device for taking away filing material from a surface, the device having a taking-away device and a suction device with a filter element.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Sports fields, and here preferably sports fields with an artificial lawn surface, contain filling material which has been put in the artificial lawn, influencing or determining the characteristics of the artificial lawn and adapting them to the respective kind of sport which has to be played on it. In the course of time on the surface, and here in particular on the artificial lawn field, dirt and other particles are such as, for example, dust are deposited which are combined with the filing material and thus influence in a negative way the characteristics of the sports field. Therefore it is provided to take away the filling material periodically from the artificial lawn field, to clean it from particles and attached dirt, and then to put it again on the sports field.

As described in the beginning, it has been known to use driving devices taking away the filling material from the sports field and also collecting at the same time the particles soiling the filling material. Suitable devices have taking-away devices for that purpose putting the filling material and the particles in a driving device. Within the device then recycling of the filling material is carried out, and the cleaned filling material is put again on the surface of the sports field. Also devices have been known which comprise, besides the taking-away device, a suction device with a filter element. The suction device serves for separating the particles from the collected mixture and to feed them to the filter element.

A disadvantage with the known suction devices, and here in particular with the filter elements employed in them, is the fact that already after a short application on fields with a large amount of dust or particles they loose their function. This is because of caking or adhesion of particles on the surface of the filter element and the forming of a so-called filter cake. This reduces continuously the performance of the filter element.

Therefore known devices have to be serviced in regular intervals which might be, depending on the occurring dust, rather short. During this servicing the jammed filter element is exchanged for a new filter element. This is seen as a disadvantage as the exchange of the filter element or the new filter element is very expensive, and the frequent exchange causes a high expenditure of working time and the linked costs.

SHORT SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide a driving device of the type mentioned in the beginning, which has a large availability, that means low service times.

In order to solve this problem the invention refers to a driving device as described in the beginning, and suggests that the filter element is designed self-cleaning. Because of the self-cleaning design of the filter element the service or cleaning intervals of the device are prolonged. Besides, filters have to be exchanged less frequently. These measurements altogether lead to a reduced standstill time of the device and increase the use and the availability. By reducing the standstill time and the effort of service reduced by a less frequent exchange of filters a significant increase of efficiency of the device and a faster amortization of the cost of purchase is reached. Less running costs are caused by the reduced expenditure for maintenance which contributes, on the other hand, to a reduction of the financial burden of the operator of the device.

In an advantageous development of the device according to the invention it is provided that the suction device sucks the particles directly from the surface, that is, for example, from a sports field or an artificial lawn field, or the mixture of filling material and particles fed in the device is sucked in the device after putting in. Here the amount of particles is removed from the mixture which has a lower density, a lower weight and thus ability of hovering. Only in this way the suction by means of an air flow can be guaranteed. The power of the air flow can, at the same time, select the amount of particles or parts which can/has to be separated from the suction air flow through the filter in the suction device or the filter element.

Besides filling material and particles, also dirt such as waste, leafs or other soiling are put in the device through the taking-away device. In the interior of the device therefore preferably a sieve is arranged on which the filling material, the adhering particles and other dirt put in the driving device are thrown. The sieve causes a separation of the filling material from the other components of the mixture. According to the invention, it is provided that a preferred modification of the device has a sieve which is arranged tilted in or in opposite direction of the traveling direction or orientated horizontally. Furthermore it is seen as convenient if the sieve is arranged releasable or fixed in the device. When the arrangement of the sieve in the device is releasable it can be, if required, exchanged for a sieve with accordingly altered width of holes, and the device can thus be adapted to a use with different filling materials. Furthermore, the sieve can also be exchanged for a plate, and the device can then be used for taking away the filling material. However, if the sieve is arranged fixedly in the device it has been proved to be advantageous if the sieve has a width of holes which can be set variably in order to guarantee thus an adaptation to the filling material which has to be assorted accordingly. It has proved to be advisable when the width of holes, which can be set variably, can be set by hand. This can be done, for example, by a lever arranged at the housing. Furthermore, it is possible in another embodiment that the width of holes can be set automatically. For that purpose then the device has suitable actuators, such as, for example, motor operators and/or a control.

The main focus of the device according to the invention, however, is on the provision of a self-cleaning equipped filter element. The filter element is designed preferably cylindrically, annularly or essentially squarely. Such a design of the filter element makes a number of constructions for housing the filter element in the driving device possible. Also possible and advantageous is the design of the filter element as cartouche or capsule which can be removed completely. Even if the suggested filter element, because of its self-cleaning function, proves to have an essentially longer lifetime than conventional filter elements in suitable intervals the filter element has to be exchanged nevertheless. It has proved to be convenient in this connection if the filter element is designed dismountable so that, after dismounting, only the filter medium can be removed from the filter element and be exchanged. This leads to a further reduction of the maintenance costs as well as of the occurring waste.

In order to support the self-cleaning of the filter element it is seen as advantageous if the filter element is designed that it can be impinged with vibrations. Through the impingement with vibrations on the filter element or the surface of the respectively used filter medium adhering dust, particles or a forming filter cake is shaken off the surface; thus a mechanical cleaning of the filter is carried out. It has been proven as advantageous if the impingement with vibrations is transmitted via a main drive or a drive assembly of the driving device. Besides also, of course, the arrangement of a separate drive for the vibration impingement is possible in the device. This separate drive can be designed smaller compared with the main drive, or it can be coupled via a gearing with the main drive. It is also possible that the separate drive is fed by a separate energy supply. In this connection, for example, an electro motor can be provided for the vibration impingement of the filter element, while the main drive of the device has an internal combustion engine. It is also possible that for vibration impingement a lever is provided which engages eccentrically at the filter element and is connected with the drive or the main drive. Because of the eccentric arrangement the vibration impingement of the filter element is carried out without any unbalanced stress of the main drive.

In order to free the particle mixture the filter element has to deal with already beforehand from a number of particles, an embodiment of the device according to the invention provides that a cyclone is superposed to the filter element. Thus the suction air flow is already freed from particles partly in the cyclone, and only a reduced particle load hits the filter element. This contributes to an essential increasing of the standstill time of the filter element. The cyclone can have a separate collecting area for the separated particles. Besides, it is also possible that the separated particles are transferred directly to a silo provided in the device.

Also the end of a sieve arranged in the silo is assigned to the silo, the sieve causing a conveying of dirt with large volume or surface put in the device to the silo. It is seen convenient in this connection that the sieve is designed in such a way that it can be impinged with vibrations via the vibration drive or the main drive of the device. The vibration impingement of the sieve can also be done via a reversing lever linked eccentrically at a rotating filter element. The vibration impingement of the sieve is thus independent from the main drive of the device which results in a significantly reduced load of the main drive and an increased quiet running.

It is seen as advantageous if the suction device has a control for the suction air flow or a suitable control is assigned to the suction device. Via the control of the suction air flow a reversing of the direction of flow can be reached, and the suction air flow can thus be fed in the filter element to blow it out. Feeding the suction air flow in the filter element can be done periodically and thus blowing-out of particles out of the filter can be done according to the “Back-Flush-Process” known from fluid filter technology. Here it is provided that the air flow furthermore is guided via suitable flaps provided in the suction device. Via these flaps also closing of the outlet for the suction air flow in regular operation of the device can be carried out. Thus escaping of particles into the surrounding air is prevented during blowing out the filter. The particles blown out of the filter element will fall back in the interior of the device and hit there a guiding plate arranged accordingly which guarantees a feeding of the particles blown out on a collecting device, for example, a silo. If the filter element is blown out be reversing or guiding the suction air flow in the filter element, the invention provides as an advantageous development that reversing or guiding the suction air flow is done by hand or automatically. Feeding the air flow by hand means also the linking to an extern air source. Thus it is, for example, possible to connect the device for cleaning with a compressed air piping and to carry out blowing out of the filter element by it. If an automatic reversing of the air flow is provided this can also be done program-controlled, for example during a cleaning or service program.

It is seen as particularly advantageous when the in particular cylindrically or annularly designed filter element is arranged on or at a first rotational axle of the device. It is possible here that the rotational axle is arranged as continuous axle in the device, or as two-piece stub axle on two sides of the device or two ends of the filter element. The filter element, which may be, as already shown before, also designed as capsule or cartouche, is slipped or slid on the rotational axle. During removing the filter element only a part of the axle, if a two-piece axle is employed, can be removed, advantageously the part of the axle which is not in engagement with a gearing, and the filter element can be removed. For that it has proved conveniently if the device has a cover surface or at least a side face which is designed to be removed from the device completely or partly. This secures the access to the filter element, and it can in particular be removed from the device quickly and simply.

It is seen as advantageous if the filter element extends across the entire width of the device. The result of this is that the suction air flow hits the filter element also distributed across the complete width of the device. Thus less particle conglomerates form on only one side or only in one area of the filter element. Besides it is, of course, also possible that the filter element extends only across a part of the width of the device, and is arranged, for example, in a box provided separately in the housing of the device. It has also proved convenient if the filter element has a first rotating section carrying out a pre-filtering of the suction air flow, and separates here rough components from the suction air flow. The suction air flow pretreated accordingly then hits the filter element in a stationary second area of the filter element and is freed there from considerably smaller particles which are still present in the pre-filtered air flow. Here only the rotating area can be designed self-cleaning, while the stationary section of the filter element is exchanged periodically. Of course, it is also possible to design both parts of the two-part or multi-part filter element self-cleaning. Here then, for example the rotating part is cleaned because of the centrifugal force acting on the deposited particles, while the stationary part is designed, for example, vibration impinged.

An advantageous development of the device according to the invention provides a guiding channel for the suction air flow. Via a suitable guiding channel, which may be designed as rail or pipe, the suction air flow is approached to the filter selectively. There is then the possibility of using smaller filters. It is also advantageous to use a guiding channel in the already suggested cleaning of the filter by means of blowing out, because here an exact hitting of the air flow on the filter element can be secured and, on the other hand, the leaving particles are guided away from the filter.

Another embodiment of the device according to the invention provides that the filter element is arranged swiveling in the device. By swiveling the filter element it can be swiveled in the suction air flow or out of the suction air flow. This possibility of swiveling in or out makes it possible that the swiveling element is only periodically impinged by the suction air flow. Thus, the driving device is suitable, for example, for the application indoors, as here the dust load of the sucked-off air has to be reduced significantly, while during the sucking-off of outdoor fields the suction air flow leaving the device can have a larger dust load. In this connection it is provided that swiveling the filter element can be carried out automatically or by hand. Here it is also convenient to provide suitable operating levers on the device or menu levels in an automatic device control which controls the automatic swiveling of the filter element via suitable actuators.

The device according to the invention has different fields of application. In connection with this, also the filling material and particles contained in the filling material put-in or sucked-off the device are designed differently. In order to comply with the respectively sucked-off particle mixture a number of exchangeable filter media is used of which the filter element can be formed. Depending on the desired filter performance as well as on the particle range to be separated, for example, cotton, polyester fleece, polypropylene, or cellulose can be used as filter medium. As these are flexible materials, also a suitable folding of the filter medium can be carried out particularly easily, and thus the effective filter surface increased significantly.

Besides the use of a flexible filter medium there is also the possibility of designing the filter of ceramic ceramic-like material or metal. Besides, the different filter media can also be processed to tissue or mats, the suitable tissue and mats being formed of one or more of the filter media. Beside the selection of a suitable filter medium there is also the possibility of equipping the filter medium or the filter element with a surface coating which is, on the one hand, an adaptation to the cleaning environment, on the other hand, supports also the self-cleaning of the filter element. As coatings here in particular a humidity-resistant, anti-static or anti-adhesive coating are possible. Here in particular the anti-static or anti-adhesive coating effects that particles which approach in the suction air flow the filter element drop out of the filter element after the end of the suction impingement, and thus are not collected on it or soil it.

In an advantageous development of the driving device according to the invention it is provided that the filter element can be dismounted, and an exchange of the filter medium can be done in the built-in condition of the filter element. In this connection it is seen as advantageous when only a part of the filter element is removed and thus releases the filter element. The exchange of the filter element can then be carried out which has as a result that the service and maintenance of the filter element can be carried out considerably faster, and the expenses connected with service can be lowered.

Already above different filter media have been presented which are designed partly rigidly, partly flexibly. In order to form a filter element it is seen as favorable if the filter medium for forming lamellas is folded zigzag-like or wave-like. By suitable arranging the filter medium in the form of waves or lamellas the active surface of the filter can be increased significantly and the filter performance can be improved. In this connection it is seen as advantageous if the lamellas or the waves are arranged annularly or radiate around the first rotational axle, or they extend away from it radial. Besides the use of a rotating filter element, there is, of course, also the possibility to form a stationary filter element with lamellas which are arranged annularly or radiate, or are arranged in one plane.

When a rotating filter element is used, in a preferred development of the invention for the support of self-cleaning a stripper element engaging at the filter element or intervening in it can be provided. By the engaging or intervening of the stripper element an impingement by vibration or pressure of the filter element is carried out, and caking or deposition of particles or filter cakes on the filter medium are loosened and removed from the filter element. The particles or filter cakes loosened by the stripper element drop out of the filter element and in the device. There are suitable conveying or guiding devices carrying out a conveying of the particles in a collecting device, for example a silo. It is seen as favorable if the stripper element is designed as a rail arranged essentially transversely to the traveling direction of the device or parallel to the first rotational axle or a longitudinal axle of the filter element. Besides, it is also possible that the stripper element has one or more fingers, bolts or pins intervening in the filter element, or are in contact with it and thus impinge the filter element. When the stripper element is designed as rail the highest possible impingement of the filter element is possible as the rail can be formed in such a way that it engages at, is in contact with or projects in the filter element across the entire length of the filter element. The stripper element is preferably designed in such a way that it engages continuously at the filter element or intervenes in it. Besides, it is, of course, also possible that the stripper element engages only periodically, for example, in connection with cleaning cycles, or within suitable time intervals during the use of the device. Thus a continuous impingement by vibrations or pressure of the filter element is carried out via the stripper element. In order to carry out the impingement of the filter element via the stripper element it is seen as favorably if a manual or automatic control is provided for the engagement or intervention of the stripper element at or in the filter element. Via this control, which is, for example, designed as swiveling level, or as hydraulic or pneumatic element, or has suitable motor operators, an impingement of the filter element as needed is possible. Switching on or off the stripper element also reduces the load of the filter medium by the engaging or intervening stripper element, and increases again the standstill time of the complete filter element.

When the filter element has a lamella-like filter medium, which is arranged, for example, annularly or radiate around a rotational axle, an advantageous development of the invention provides that the stripper element engages between two lamellas of the rotating filter element, and spreads the lamella on the bottom in the direction of rotation apart from the lamella on top in the direction of rotation in interaction with the rotation of the filter element. The spread-apart lamella then comes free from the stripper element after continuous rotation of the filter element, and shoots in the direction of rotation. Because of this shooting movement of the lamella and, if necessary, by the collision with the next lamella then the particles or the filter cake deposited on the lamella are loosened, and the filter medium is cleaned. When the filter medium goes on rotating all lamellas are cleaned this way. Here it is also possible, if the stripper element engages periodically or continuously, to clean the filter element.

Before the use of the device according to the invention an examination of the condition of the filter element or a control of the filter medium is advisable. In the course of this control at the same time the cleaning of the filter element can be carried out. The cleaning, which is done preferably by an impingement of the filter element with pressure or vibrations, thus can be carried out before, during or after the operation of the device. The time of the cleaning can be considered, for example, when service plans are made up.

A favorable development of the driving device according to the invention provides that in the interior of the housing a plate or rail orientated transversely to the traveling direction of the device, arranged in the suction air flow or projecting in the suction air flow with a bouncing surface for at least a part of the sucked-off particles is provided. The plate or rail carries here preferably on a first side the bouncing surface, while on the side of the plate or rail opposite the bouncing surface a guide surface is provided. This guides particles dropping or shot out of the filter element to a silo or another collecting device.

The rail or plate thus has a double function. It does not only serve for guiding the suction air flow but separates at the same time the part of the driving device in which the main components of the suction device are arranged from the other part of the device which is mainly occupied by the taking-away device. The bouncing surface here does not serve only for guiding the suction air flow but effects also that filling material parts, dirt and particles which got in the device by the taking-away device are guided to a sieve arranged below the bouncing surface. In this connection it is, of course, also possible, and also provided in a preferred development of the invention, that beside the mentioned plate or rail another guiding plate is arranged below the filter element which extends essentially transversely to the traveling direction of the device. This is designed plane, and has at least the width of the filter element. More favorably, it extends beyond the filter element in width in order to prevent particles or parts of the filter cake dropping out on the side of the filter element from getting in the part of the device below the guiding plate. Preferably, the guiding plate has raised or bent upwards side faces. Besides, the guiding plate is orientated towards a silo or another collecting device for dirt and particles separated from the filling material. The particles or other parts falling, thrown or loosened from the filter element are thus conveyed by the guiding plate in the silo or the collecting device. In order to secure the selected conveying of the particle mixture hitting the guiding plate in the silo, it is provided in a development of the invention that the side faces are designed approaching each other. This orientation of the side surfaces effects a tapering of the surface of the guiding plate towards the silo or the collecting device. This improves the conveying of the particles or the particle mixture in the device.

It is seen as advantageous when the taking away device has a second rotational axle which can be used for receiving a cylinder, and here in particular a brush cylinder. The second rotational axle can here have a separate drive, or be connected via a suitable gearing with a central drive of the device. If the device is not auto-moving but a trailer device it can be connected with a drive of the towing vehicle. The rotational axle or rotational axles of the device can be used for vibration impingement of the filter element or a sieve arranged in the device. For that purpose, a reversing lever is provided which is connected eccentrically with its first end to the first or second rotational axle. The second end of the reversing lever is arranged at the sieve or filter element arranged in the device. The reversing lever can also effect a vibration impingement of the guiding plate so that here an essentially improved conveying of the dirt particles or particle mixtures towards the silo or the collecting device is done. The reversing lever is designed essentially L-shaped, and is supported on bearings in the device such that it can be swiveled in or in opposite direction of the rotation. For that purpose a separate bearing can be used, however, there is also the possibility that the reversing lever is supported on bearings rotating on a side face of the guiding plate. Depending on the point of arrangement of the reversing lever either vibration impingement of the guiding plate, the sieve or the filter element is done. If via the reversing lever the vibration impingement of the sieve is secured, there is the additional possibility that the sieve is fastened at different positions of a limb of the reversing lever and its inclination can thus be set. Depending on the distance of the fastening point to the bending point of the reversing lever, also the amplitude of the vibration transmitted via the reversing lever changes, and thus the sieve performance or the conveying performance of the vibration impinged component of the device. It is advantageous and in constructive respect favorable if at least one end of the reversing lever is connected via a coupling rod with the first or second rotational axle. The result here is the possibility that the reversing lever does not have to be directly assigned to the respective rotational axle, but it can be fastened to a point of the device which can be chosen more or less freely.

Besides the link of the vibration impingement of the sieve, the filter element or the guiding plate in or at the rotational axles of the device, there is, in a favorable development of the device according to the invention, also the possibility that a separate swing drive is provided for the mentioned elements. If a swing drive of this type, which can be designed for example as unbalance motor, is arranged in the device the effect is the advantage that the other drive or the other drives of the device are not inferred with by the vibration. Besides the employment of a separate swing drive there is, of course, also the possibility of providing a common driving unit for the first and/or second rotational axle and the swing drive. A suitable connection of the driving unit with the corresponding axles is then carried out via a suitably designed gearing, for example a belt drive, and suitable deflection or transmission discs or wheels. The gearing can be here designed advantageously as toothed gearing, chain gear or belt gear. It is seen as favorable when the gearing is arranged in a side area of the device, and is constructively separated from the other, possibly soiled, area of the housing. By means of this it is possible that the gearing is not impeded by dirt, and thus the lifetime of the gearing is increased.

It is advantageous when the device is auto-motive, or is designed as trailer device for a towing machine. When the device is designed as auto-motive it is convenient to provide as main drive an electro motor or an internal combustion motor. This motor designed as main drive can subsequently also be used for coupling with the driving unit of the device. The suitable vibration or rotation movement of the device parts, as already described before, is then done via this main drive.

The device according to the invention has, besides the suction device, preferably also a taking-away device which collects the dirt or the filling material deposited on the surface to be cleaned, and puts it in the device. In this connection it is seen as convenient if a cylinder is provided in the taking-away device which also can be designed as cylinder brush. In this connection it is seen as favorable if this cylinder is arranged such that its height can be adjusted. Because of the height-adjusting quality the taking-away device can be adapted to the different substrates to be cleaned. Additionally to the height-adjusting cylinder or alternatively to that it is provided that a favorable development of the device according to the invention has at least one support wheel which relieves the cylinder and, if the support wheel is swiveling, improves also steering the device.

It is favorable if the device according to the invention has at least one stationary or moving broom. This broom works filling material falling through the sieve in the cleaned or taken-away surface. In this connection it is provided that the broom of the cylinder is arranged downstream at the device in traveling direction.

The suction air flow is conveniently guided out of the device. It is favorable here that at a cover surface or at least a side surface of the device an opening for letting out the suction air flow is provided. As the suction air flow, as a rule, has already been guided through the filter system before it is let out, this has no or only a low load with particles. A contamination of the surroundings, for example an impairing, for example, of the service staff of the device is thus prevented or reduced. In this connection it is favorable if the suction air flow is guided via the interior of the rotational axle or the filter element or the filter element arranged at the rotational axle.

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DIFFERENT VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is shown schematically in the following drawings. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention in a side view,

FIG. 2 another side view of the device, seen from the side opposite FIG. 1 and

FIG. 3 a front view of the device wherein it has been cut along the line A-A′ in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a driving device 10 comprising a taking-away device 11. Filling material, dirt and other particles can be taken away from a surface by the driving device 10. Generally, the driving device 10 is suited for cleaning surfaces of all kind, also with solid soil. However, it is in particular convenient when the driving device 10 is used on a sports field, and her preferably on an artificial lawn field. Besides the picking up of the filling material of the artificial lawn field and putting it on the field again, a cleaning of the filling layer characterizing the qualities of the artificial lawn is carried out. The driving device 10 has in its interior 14 a guiding plate 15. This guiding plate 15 serves for guiding filling material fed in the driving device 10 by the taking-away device 11, mixed with dirt and particles, to a sieve 16 arranged centrally in the driving device 10. The sieve 16 extends over the entire width of the driving device 10 and over almost its complete length. Sieve 16 is arranged tilted in the driving device 10, and has a gradient orientated opposite the direction of traveling indicated by arrow A. At the back end 12 of the sieve 16, seen in the direction of traveling, it joins a silo 17 collecting the dirt and other particles which do not fall through the sieve 16. Sieve 16 is arranged releasable in the driving device 10 and supported on bearings on suitable projections 18. The projections 18 are here designed in such a way that they allow a vibration of the sieve 16, however prevent the sieve 16 from slipping. In order to make the sieve 16 vibrate it is connected via a reversing lever 36 with a rotational axle 28. On the one hand, the vibration improves the sieve performance, on the other hand, the vibrations of the sieve 16 effect a conveying of the filling material thrown onto the sieve 16 in the direction of the silo 17. Silo 17 has a container 21 which can be removed for emptying from the driving device 10. For removing the container 21 a locking bracket 22 is released, and the container 21 is drawn out of the driving device 10.

The guiding plate 15 has roughly in the area above the center of the sieve a folding 23 and thus forms a bouncing surface 24 which deviates filling material, dirt and particles fed in the driving device 10 to the sieve 16.

The driving device 10 shown in FIG. 1 has additionally a suction device 25. This is arranged in the embodiment of FIG. 1 in the upper section 13 of the driving device 10, and comprises, besides an air suction ventilator (not shown), a filter element 26 comprising in the embodiment a cylindrical lamella filter 27. Its lamellas 27 extend radial away from a first rotational axle 28 of the driving device 10 penetrating the filter element 26. The lamellas 27 are formed by folding the filter medium, and enlarge the surface available for filtration the sucked-off air. Flexible materials can form the filter medium of the embodiment of FIG. 1, which are based, for example, on textile material or are in the form of metal or synthetic webs. It is decisive here that the filter medium provides a pore size adapted to the expected particle size.

Assigned to the filter element 26 or the suction device 25, the driving device 10 has in its interior 14 a plate 30 with a guiding surface 29 which serves, on the one hand, for guiding the suction air flow through the interior 14 of the driving device 10, and, on the other hand, for conveying particles dropping of or beaten or thrown out of the filter element 26 to the silo 17. Plate 30 has, for improving the flowing qualities of the suction air flow, a beveling 31 at its end 38 facing the silo 17. This does not serve only for guiding the suction air flow, but forms, at the same time, another bouncing surface 24′ on which particles of the suction air flow should be deviated in the direction of the sieve 16 or the silo 17. This other bouncing surface 24′ thus has an additional protective function for the filter element 26 as here larger and heavier particles can be separated out of the suction air flow, and thus cannot be conveyed up to the filter element 26. This prevents a premature jamming of the filter element 26 with too large particles.

The first rotational axle 28 has an eccentrically arranged receiving device 32 to which the first coupling point 33 of a coupling rod 34 is linked. The second coupling point 35 of the coupling rod 34 is connected with a reversing lever 36 which again is fastened to the extension 46 of the plate 30 arranged in the interior 14 of the driving device 10. An end surface of the reversing lever 36 is connected with the sieve 16. By means of the rotational movement of the first rotational axle 28 and arranged via the eccentric receiving device 32 or the coupling rod 34 the sieve 16 is impinged by vibrations because of swiveling the reversing lever 36. This vibration of the sieve 16 conveys, on the one hand, the filling material fed in the driving device 10 in the direction of the silo 17, on the other hand, it improves further the sieving performance, and a large part of the filling material is returned to the cleaned surface after separating other dirt particles or dirt objects. Because of the vibration impingement separating and returning is carried out considerably faster. The reversing lever 36 has on its bottom limb 39 orientated in the direction of the silo additional borings 40 in which a bolt 41 engaging or fastened at the sieve 16 can be inserted. Inserting the bolt changes the inclination of the sieve 16, and thus adapts the separation effect and speed. At the same time, via an adjusting of the inclination of the sieve the amplitude of the vibration or the impingement with vibration of the sieve 16 can be altered, and thus also the sieve performance can be set.

The filter element 26 is designed self-cleaning in the embodiment of FIG. 1. Thus, first of all, the filter medium has an anti-adhesive coating so that caking or adhering of particles separated from the suction air flow is prevented or reduced. The sucked-in particles collecting at the filter element 26 or the surface of the filter medium drop off the filter element 26 as soon as the suction is interrupted. The particles falling out of the filter element 26 land on the plate 30 or the guiding surface 29, and are conveyed from there to the silo 17. Besides the anti-adhesive coating of the filter medium, at the same time also a stripper element 42 is provided with a rail 43 extending over the entire width of the driving device 10 which is arranged in the driving device 10 in such a way that it projects at least partly in the filter element 26 and engages between the lamellas 27. During the rotation of the filter element 26 a lamella 27 comes in close contact with the rail 43 of the stripper element 42, and is held back for a short time. Here, the lamella 27 is spread apart from the lamella 27 arranged before in the direction of rotating, and is loosened, after further rotating of the filter element 26, from the rail 43. After this loosening, the lamella 27 shots further in the direction of rotation and, because of the shooting movement of the lamella 27, the deposited particles are loosened as well as the filter cake possibly formed at the filter medium. The stripper element 42 or only the rail 43 are arranged moving in the driving device 10, so that there is no permanent impingement of the lamellas 27 by the rail 43. This permanent impingement would lead to a premature wear of the filter medium or to a damage of the filter element 26, and reduce its standstill time. The movement of the rail 43 or the stripper element may result in a periodical impingement of the filter element 26. This can be, for example, in the course of cleaning cycles automatically or during the use of the driving device 10 manually.

The driving device 10 has in its cover surface 44 a flap 45 which is locked by a locking mechanism 70, and is arranged swiveling via a hinge 47 at the driving device 10. After opening the flap 45, the filter element 26 can be accessed freely from the front, and can be removed from the driving device 10. At the same time, for example for service purposes, access is possible to the other elements of the suction device 25, such as for example the stripper element 42, the coupling rod 34 or the plate 30. In order to release the filter element 26 from the suction device 25 at the first rotational axle 28 a clamp 48 is provided, which, after opening a screw 48 impinging the clamp 48, can be drawn off the first rotational axle 28, and thus releases the filter element 26. The filter element 26, which is in the example, as already shown, designed as lamella ring, is slipped on the first rotational axle 28. The first rotational axle 28 is here designed as stub axle (see FIG. 3), and thus engages only at both ends of the filter element 26 in its interior. Otherwise, the filter element 26 is hollow, and thus allows flowing-through of the suction air flow.

The taking-away device 11 has in the embodiment a second rotational axle 28′ of the driving device 10 on which a cylinder 51 designed as brush is arranged. Additionally to the rotating cylinder 51 causing taking away of the filling material and particles from the surface, and guaranteeing at the same time its feeding in the driving device 10, the taking-away device 11 has a support wheel 52 as well as brooms 53 arranged after the cylinder 51 seen in traveling direction. The support wheel 52 serves at the same time for height adjusting of the taking-away device 11 and the adjusting which can be done that way to different surface materials. The brooms 53 arranged post-positioned in traveling direction brush the sieved and dropped out of the taking-away device 11, cleaned filling material in the surface, for example an artificial lawn surface. The brooms 53 are not connected fixedly with the taking-away device 11, but they can be exchanged or added or removed as necessary. The driving device is not restricted to the use with two brooms 53 either, rather the arrangement of only one or several brooms 53 is actually possible. The cylinder 51 as well as the respective rotational axles 28, 28′ have a common drive assembly 54. This is arranged in a separate compartment 55. The separate arrangement prevents soiling of the drive assembly 54 by filling material or particles adhering to it fed in the driving device 10.

FIG. 2 shows another side view of the driving device 10. The driving device 10 has a removable side covering which can be removed, for example for service purposes. In the embodiment of FIG. 2 the driving device 10 is shown without side coverings so that here the gearing 58 of the driving device 10 can be discerned clearly. As already described in connection with the description of the driving device 10 in FIG. 1, it has a central drive assembly 54. This drives the first and the second rotational axles 28 and 28′. A gearing 58 is assigned to the drive assembly 54, the gearing being connected with the drive assembly 54 via a belt drive 59. A direct drive of the second rotational axle 28′ and the cylinder 51 in contact with it is carried out via the belt drive 54. For that at the second rotational axle 28′ a pinion 60 is arranged which is in engagement with the belt drive 59. Also a deviation wheel 61 engaging from the outside at the belt drive 59 belongs to the gearing 58. This deviation wheel 61 deviates the belt drive 59 in the direction of the translating wheel 62 which again is connected via a drive belt 63, in the example a V-belt, with the first rotational axle 28, and guarantees a translation here. Because of the different diameters of the translating wheel 62 and the gear wheel 64 arranged at the first rotational axle 28 the number of revolutions of the first rotational axle 28 is increased. The increased number of revolutions effects that the self-cleaning function of the filter element 26 is further improved as the particles adhering to the filter medium are thrown out of the filter element 26 because of the high centrifugal acceleration. Below the gear wheel 64 a deflection roller 65 is provided causing strain relief of the drive belt 63. The deflection roller 65 is arranged at a holding device 66 which can also carry the stripper element 42. By arranging the holding device 66 on an axle of the deflection roller 65 its position can be changed. Through this change of position of the holding device 66 a change of the engagement of the stripper element 42 at the filter element 26 can be carried out. At the same time, an impingement by the drive belt 63 can result in an automatic swiveling of the holding device 66 and thus of the stripper element 42. Thus a periodic or controlled engagement of the stripper element 42 in or at the filter element 26 can be carried out. The embodiment of a driving device 10 shown in FIG. 2 has its own drive assembly 54 for the gearing 58. However, it is also possible that the device 10 is coupled with the drive of a towing machine (not shown). In addition to that, the driving device 10 can also be designed auto-moving. The wheel 67 of the driving device 10, in front in traveling direction, is then designed steerable. The suction air flow guided in the interior 14 of the driving device 10 is led out of it at the cover surface 44 of the driving device 10, after it has flown through the filter element 26 and thus has been relieved of particles.

FIG. 3 shows a front view of the driving device 10 according to the invention which has been cut along the line A-A drawn in FIG. 2. The filter element 26, which comprises an annular lamella filter 37, arranged in the top part of the driving device 10, can be seen clearly here. The filter element 26 is, in the example of FIG. 3, designed as cartouche 68, and thus can be particularly fast removed from the driving device 10 for service purposes or for exchanging when worn. The filter element 26 has inside a hollow space 57 serving for guiding the suction air flow. The interior of the filter element 26 joins on the left hand side of the cartouche in FIG. 3 in a guide channel 69 which guides the suction air relieved from particles out of the driving device 10. The guide channel 69 embraces a first rotational axle 28 of the driving device 10. This is designed in the embodiment as stub axle, that means the rotational axle 28 does not pass through the complete filter element 26 but it engages only at its ends. At the opposite end a second stub-like rotational axle 28″ is provided which is supported revolving on bearings, however not driven. The rotational axle 28 on the left hand side of the driving device 10 is in connection with the gearing 58, which already has been described in detail in FIG. 2. The stripper element 42, which engages in the lamellas 27 of the filter element 26 and serves here for an impingement of the lamellas 27 for beating loose particles or a filter cake formed on the lamellas 27, cannot be discerned in FIG. 3. In the bottom area of the device 10 there is the second rotational axle 28′ on which a cylinder 51 is put. The second rotational axle 28′ is designed as continuous axle because of the larger forces acting here. The second rotational axle 28′ is in direct connection with the drive assembly 54 of the driving device 10. The transfer of forces is guaranteed here by a belt drive 59. In addition to the belt drive 59, in the left area of the device 10 shown in FIG. 3 a deflection wheel 61 can be seen effecting a translating towards the first rotational axle 28 so that it has a higher number of revolutions compared with the second rotational axle 28′. In the center area of the driving device 10 in FIG. 3 a plate 30 can be seen on which particles dropping of the filter element 26 fall and are conveyed through the plate 30 to a silo 17, which cannot be discerned in FIG. 3 because in the back region of the driving device 10. The plate 30 has on its side edges 71 plate folded upward, which prevent particles falling from the plate 30 to the cylinder 51 below.

Although the invention has been described by exact examples which are illustrated in the most extensive detail it is pointed out that this serves only for illustration, and that the invention is not necessarily limited to it because alternative embodiments and methods become clear for experts in view of the disclosure. Accordingly changes can be considered which can be made without departing from the contents of the described invention. 

1. Driving device for taking away filling material and particles soiling the filling material from a surface, in particular from a sports field, preferably an artificial lawn field, wherein the driving device has a taking-away device picking up the filling material and the particles from the surface and feeding them in the driving device, and a suction device with a filter element for collecting particles from a suction air flow, characterized in that the filter element (26) is designed self-cleaning.
 2. Driving device according to claim 1, characterized in that the suction device sucks the particles directly off the surface and/or out off the mixture of filling material/particles fed in the driving device (10), wherein the filter element (26) is designed preferably cylindrically, annularly, or essentially rectangular.
 3. Driving device according to claim 1, characterized in that the filter element (26) is designed that it can be impinged by vibrations, and/or the vibration impingement is arranged via a drive assembly (54) of the driving device (10), or a separate drive assembly (54) is provided for the vibration impingement, wherein preferably for the vibration impingement a lever engaging eccentrically on the filter element (54) connected with the drive assembly (54) or a traveling device, in particular a reversing lever (36), is provided.
 4. Driving device according to claim 1, characterized in that a cyclone superposed to the filter element (26) is provided, and/or a control for the suction air flow is provided, wherein the flow direction of the suction air flow can be reversed or the suction air flow for can be guided for blowing out in the filter element (26), and/or the reversion or guiding-in of the suction air flow and/or the blowing-out of the filter element (26) is carried manually or automatically.
 5. Driving device according to claim 1, characterized in that the filter element (26) is arranged, in particular slipped on or pushed on, on or at a first rotational axle (28, 28′, 28″) of the driving device (10), and/or the filter element (26) has as a filter medium cotton, polyester fleece, polypropylene, cellulose, a ceramic or ceramic-like material or metal and/or tissue or mats of one or more of the filter media, and/or the filter element (26) or the filter medium has a humidity-resistant, anti-static and/or anti-adhesive coating.
 6. Driving device according to claim 1, characterized in that the filter element (26) is designed dismountable, and/or in a built-in condition of the filter element (26) the exchange of the filter medium can be carried out without removing the filter element (26), and/or the filter medium is folded zigzag- or wave-shaped for the forming of lamellas (27), and the lamellas (27) are designed along the circumference extending radial away from the first rotational axle (28) and/or a longitudinal axle of the filter element (26), and/or the lamellas (27) are arranged annularly or radiate around the first rotational axle (28).
 7. Driving device according to claim 1, characterized in that a let-off or lead-in of the suction air flow via the interior of the first rotational axle (28) and/or the filter element (26) is provided, and/or a stripper element (42) engaging at the filter element (26) or engaging in the filter element (26) is provided for vibration and/or pressure impingement of the filter element (26), and/or the stripper element (42) is designed as a rail (43) arranged essentially transversely to the direction of traveling of the device (10) and/or parallel to the first rotational axle (28) and/or the longitudinal axle of the filter element (26), or is designed as finger, bolt or pin.
 8. Driving device according to claim 1, characterized in that a stripper element (42) is provided, and the stripper element (42) engages continuously or periodically at the filter element (26), engages in the filter element (26) and/or impinges the filter element (26) with pressure and/or vibrations, and/or a manual or automatic control is provided for the engaging of the stripper element (42) at or in the filter element (26).
 9. Driving device according to claim 1, characterized in that a stripper element is provided, and the stripper element (42) engages between two lamellas (27) of the filter element (26) designed rotating, spreads the lamella (27) on the bottom in the direction of rotation apart from the lamella (27) on top in the rotation direction in interaction with the rotation of the filter element (26), and the spread-apart lamella (27) after further rotation of the filter element (26) comes off the stripper element (42) and shoots in rotation direction, wherein by a shooting movement of the lamella (27) particles or filter cake deposited on the lamella (27) come off.
 10. Driving device according to claim 1, characterized in that a pressure and/or vibration impingement of the filter element (26) is done before, during or after the operation of the driving device (10), and/or in the interior (14) a plate is provided, in particular a guiding plate (15) or rail with a bouncing surface (24) for at least a part of the sucked-off particles orientated transversely to the traveling direction of the driving device (10), arranged in the suction air flow or projecting in the suction air flow, and/or with a guide surface (29) opposite the bouncing surface (24) for particles falling or being thrown out of the filter element (26) or for the filter cake.
 11. Driving device according to claim 1, characterized in that a silo (17) arranged in or on the driving device (10) is provided for receiving the filling material, dirt and/or the particles.
 12. Driving device according to claim 1, characterized in that a sheet metal (30) arranged below the filter element (26) extending essentially transversely to the traveling direction of the driving device (10) in the interior (14) of the driving device (10) designed plane for particles coming off or beaten loose from the filter element (26), being blown out of the filter element (26) or the filter medium, and/or coming off the filter element (26) by the stripper element (42), and/or the filter cake or its parts, and/or the metal sheet (30) has raised or bent upwards side edges, and/or an incline orientated in the direction of the silo (17) and conveys the particles falling or being thrown on the metal sheet (30) in the silo (17).
 13. Driving device according to claim 1, characterized in that a plane sheet metal (30) is provided and the side edges (71) of the sheet metal (30) are designed approaching one another, the surface of the sheet metal (30) tapering.
 14. Driving device according to claim 1, characterized in that the taking-away device (11) has a second rotational axle (28′) for receiving a cylinder (51), in particular a brush cylinder, and/or an essentially L-shaped reversing lever (36) is provided connected eccentrically with a coupling point (33, 35) with a first or second rotational axle (28, 28′, 28″) and a sieve provided at the interior (14) of the driving device (10) with another coupling point (33, 35) arranged at the filter element (26) and/or at the metal sheet (30), the reversing lever being supported on bearings in the driving device (10) swiveling in or opposite the rotation direction, the reversing lever (36) arranging a vibration impingement of the sieve (16), the metal sheet (30) and/or the filter element (26).
 15. Driving device according to claim 1, characterized in that a reversing lever (36) is provided connected eccentrically with a coupling point (33, 35) with a first or second rotational axle (28, 28′, 28″) and a sieve (16) provided at the interior (14) of the driving device (10) with another coupling point (33, 35) at the filter element (26) and/or arranged at a sieve (30), and at least one coupling point (33, 35) is connected via a coupling rod (34) with the first or second rotational axle (28, 28′, 28″), and/or the reversing lever (36) is supported on bearings at a side edge (71) of the metal sheet (30) rotating or swiveling, and/or a swing drive, in particular an unbalance motor is provided for a sieve (16), the filter element (26) and/or a metal sheet (30).
 16. Driving device according to claim 1, characterized in that a drive assembly (54) is provided for a first and/or second rotational axle (28, 28′, 28″), and/or for a swing drive, for the taking-away device and/or the suction device, and/or for transmitting the driving energy to the first and/or second rotational axle (28, 28′, 28″), the taking-away device, the suction device and/or the swing drive a gearing (58) is provided.
 17. Driving device according to claim 1, characterized in that a gearing (58) is provided, and the gearing (58) is designed as toothed gearing, chain gear or belt gear, and/or the gearing (58) is arranged in the direction of traveling at the side of or in the driving device (10).
 18. Driving device according to claim 1, characterized in that a drive assembly (54) is provided, and the drive assembly (54) is designed as electro or combustion motor, and/or is coupled with a traveling movement of the driving device (10), and/or a drive unit is coupled with a traveling device of the driving device (10), and/or the driving device (10) is designed automotive or as trailer device.
 19. Driving device according to claim 1, characterized in that a sieve (16) is provided, and is arranged tilted in or in opposite direction of the traveling direction or orientated horizontally, and/or the sieve (16) is arranged releasable or fixed in the driving device (10), and/or has a variably adjustable width of the hole, wherein the width of the hole can be adjusted manually or automatically, and/or the taking-away device (11) and/or the cylinder (51) are arranged in such a way that their height can be adjusted.
 20. Driving device according to claim 1, characterized in that the driving device (10) has at least one in particular swiveling support wheel (52), and/or at least one stationary or moving broom (53) is provided for sweeping filling material falling through the sieve (16), the broom (53) being arranged after the cylinder (51) in the direction of traveling at the driving device (10) or the taking-away device (11), and/or at a cover surface (44) and/or at least one side face of the driving device (10) an opening is provided for letting out the suction air flow.
 21. Driving device according to claim 1, characterized in that a cover surface (44) is provided, and the cover surface (44) and/or at least one side face are designed removable at least in the area of the filter element (26) completely or partially from the driving device (10), and/or the filter element (26) extends across the entire width of the driving device (10) or a part of it, and/or the filter element (26) has a rotating and a stationary section.
 22. Driving device according to claim 1, characterized in that a guiding channel (69) is provided for the suction air flow, and/or the filter element (26) is designed as capsule or cartouche (68) which can be in particular dismounted or removed as a whole, and/or the filter element (26) can swivel automatically or manually in the suction air flow or can be swiveled into the suction air flow. 